Brandwave

How popular isAmazon Kindle Direct Publishing?

In September 2026, people searched for Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing by name about 1.8 million times worldwide, a 50% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 47.5% of all global self publishing platform searches, placing Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing second out of eight platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about self publishing platforms, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing appeared in all answers and was the most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing is the second most searched of 8 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Amazon KDPShare of searches 47.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  2. Amazon Kindle Direct PublishingShare of searches 47.5%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. IngramSparkShare of searches 2.3%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  4. Draft2DigitalShare of searches 0.7%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  5. SmashwordsShare of searches 0.7%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 8th

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Top self publishing platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing appeared in all five answers. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing is the most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing1st
  2. Draft2Digital2nd
  3. IngramSpark3rd
  4. Lulu4th
  5. Barnes & Noble Press5th
  6. Amazon KDP6th
  7. Kobo Writing Life7th
  8. Smashwords8th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Draft2Digital5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Lulu5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • IngramSpark4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Amazon KDP3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Barnes & Noble Press3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kobo Writing Life2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Smashwords1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about self publishing platforms

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Which self publishing platforms compete with Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing?

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing against self publishing platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Amazon KDP, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, IngramSpark. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthAmazon KDPAmazon Kindle Direct PublishingIngramSparkDraft2DigitalSmashwordsBarnes & Noble PressKobo Writing LifeLulu
Oct 202546.6%46.6%2.8%1.3%1.3%0.69%0.46%0.31%
Nov 202545.9%45.9%3.4%1.5%1.5%0.83%0.45%0.37%
Dec 202546.6%46.6%2.8%1.3%1.3%0.69%0.38%0.31%
Jan 202646.4%46.4%2.8%1.5%1.5%0.69%0.38%0.31%
Feb 202646.1%46.1%3.4%1.5%1.2%0.83%0.46%0.3%
Mar 202646.6%46.6%2.8%1.3%1.3%0.69%0.38%0.31%
Apr 202646.6%46.6%2.8%1.5%1%0.69%0.46%0.31%
May 202646.7%46.7%2.8%1.3%1%0.69%0.46%0.31%
Jun 202646.8%46.8%2.8%1%1%0.69%0.46%0.31%
Jul 202646.6%46.6%2.8%1.3%1.3%0.69%0.46%0.31%
Aug 202646.9%46.9%2.8%1%0.85%0.69%0.46%0.31%
Sep 202647.5%47.5%2.3%0.7%0.7%0.58%0.38%0.26%

  1. 1.Amazon KDP

    47.5%

    Held 1st. 1.8M estimated branded searches, +22% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  2. 2.Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

    47.5%

    Held 2nd. 1.8M estimated branded searches, +22% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  3. 3.IngramSpark

    2.3%

    Held 3rd. 90.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  4. 4.Draft2Digital

    0.7%

    Held 4th. 27.1K estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  5. 5.Smashwords

    0.7%

    Held 5th. 27.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  6. 6.Barnes & Noble Press

    0.58%

    Held 6th. 22.2K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  7. 7.Kobo Writing Life

    0.38%

    Held 7th. 14.8K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  8. 8.Lulu

    0.26%

    Held 8th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

Compare popularity between Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

7 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing worldwide rose from 1.2M to 1.8M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing’s share of searches among self publishing platforms worldwide increased from 46.6% to 47.5%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing’s share of searches among self publishing platforms worldwide peaked at 47.5% in September 2026 and was lowest at 45.9% in November 2025.

How did search popularity change for self publishing platforms worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Amazon KDP gained share of searches among self publishing platforms worldwide, from 46.9% to 47.5%.

  2. In September 2026, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing gained share of searches among self publishing platforms worldwide, from 46.9% to 47.5%.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Barnes & Noble Press worldwide rose 22.7% over 12 measured months, from 18.1K to 22.2K in September 2026.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Kobo Writing Life worldwide rose 22.3% over 12 measured months, from 12.1K to 14.8K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for IngramSpark worldwide rose 22.3% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 90.5K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Lulu worldwide rose 22.2% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 9.9K in September 2026.

How are Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • amazon kindle direct publishing

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Do you work for Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

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